Antiulcer Activity of Black Pepper against Absolute Ethanol Induced Gastric Mucosal Damage in Mice

Piper nigrum Linn. (Piperaceae) known as black pepper has long been used in folk medicine as stomachic, aromatic, stimulant, diaphoretic and hepatoprotective. Black pepper stimulates taste buds causing reflex stimulation gastric secretions, improving digestion and thus used in the treatment of gastrointestinal upsets and flatulence. Therefore, present study was designed to investigate the gastroprotective effects of pet ether extract of Piper nigrum (PEPN) against absolute ethanol induced gastric mucosal damage in mice. The PEPN 200 mg/kg, orally, once daily, was administered to mice for 14 days. Ranitidine (80 mg/kg, oral.) was used as a standard drug. The severity of gastric mucosal damage induced by absolute ethanol (99%) was analyzed in terms of ulcer index value. The anti-lipid peroxidative activity of PEPN and ranitidine in gastric mucosa was also evaluated. Administration of PEPN for 14 days to mice, significantly decreased the ulcer index value when compared to saline control treated animals in ethanol induced gastric ulcer model. Ranitidine (80 mg/kg, oral) also produced a significant decrease in ulcer index when compared with the saline control treated group. However, the anti ulcer activity of ranitidine was higher than that of PEPN. Also a significant decrease in thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) was found following 14 days pretreatment with PEPN. Thus, it can be concluded that Piper nigrum has anti ulcer activity, which can be attributed to its anti-oxidant mechanism of action.